Mechanical coin-controlled device



April 1953 c. H. DIXON 2,633,961

. MECHANICAL com CONTROLLED DEVICE Filed April 29, 1948 12 Sheets-Sheet 1 hour-has Q4.IDix vL 7%, @n,

Filed April 29. 1948 *P 1953 c. H. DIXON 2,633,961

' MECHANICAL CQIN CONTROLLED DEVICE 12 Sheets-Sheet 2 imvau cn- Charies H- Dix n April 7,1953 c. H. DIXON 2,633,961

MECHANICAL com CONTROLLED DEVICE Filed April 29, 1948 12 Sheets-Sheet I5 April 7, 1953 c. H. DIXON 2,633,961

MECHANICAL COIN CONTROLLED DEVICE Filed April 29, 1948 12 Sheets-Sheet 4 F h u: no 0 n r w 2 n \f T A b o o 0 10 n O 2 y X 0 9 o (2" Q L u.l 2-H! a m o U a g Q Q April 7,' 19.53 c. H. DIXON 2,533,961

MECHANICAL com CONTROLLED DEVICE Filed April 29, 1948 12 sheets she e't 5' mp, Charles q-LDixon 4.1M, fig, MM a4,

A ril 7,1953

Filed April 29. 1948 MECHANICAL COIN CONTROLLED DEVICE c. H. DIXON 2,633,961

1'2' Sheets-Sheet s ////\///////V//////fl/fl////////// Charles (-H- Dixon 4 4, W*w

April-7, 9 3 c. H. DIXON 2,633,961i

MECHANICAL COIN CONTROLLED DEVICE Filed April 29, 1948 H 12 Sheets-Sheet (*IGO April 7; l953 c. DIXON 2,633,961

MECHANICAL COIN CONTROLLED DEVICE April 7, 1953 c. H. DIXON 2,633,961

' MECHANICAL com CONTROLLED DEVICE Filed April 29, 1948 12 Sheets-Sheet 9 NYBN r o H Chew-lea QLDiXOYL MW, PM, MM.Z)J#

April 1953 c. H. DIXON 2,633,961

MECHANICAL com CONTROLLED DEVICE Filed April 29, 1948 I2 Sheets-Sheet'lO 4 WM, Charles CH- Dixcan My, #4., baa-($044.

(fi -onward April 7, 1953 MECHANICAL COIN Filed April 29. 19 8 'IIIIIIIIIIIIIII/ II III/I DIXON CONTROLLED DEVICE 12' Sheets-Sheet 11 1111111111 II IIIIIIIIIIIII/IIIIIIIIl/IIIIIII Charles H. Dixon M, /?2-,W*

RpriYZ 1953 c. H. DIXON MECHANICAL com CONTROLLED DEVICE Filed April 29, 1948 12 Sheets-Sheet l2 3. n my new.

NVBNTQh- I QChavles q-LIDixon,

(fl'r-romerJ Patented Apr. 7, i953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Charles: H. Dixon, Detroit; Mich.,. assignon to) Ex-QelL-O Corporation, Detroit, Mich a. corporation of Michigan Application Aprilf29, 1948,, Serial No. 23,942

13. Claims. 1-.

The present. invention relates. generally" to; coin. operated. mechanisms and. more; specificallyto; a. multiple: coin. controlled lock having. particular butno. means.- exclusive. utility for governing: the. delivery of. purchased articles from a vending. machine.

One. oi. the objects; of. the invention. is. toproevide. a. multiple. coin controlled lock. capable 01-.

being released in; response to; the depositing. in.-

' for which the mechanism has. been set; will be. promptly and automatically returned. to the. custcmer.

Still another object is. to provide a coin. con.- trolled. mechanism of the, character set forth wherein coinage totaling to the predetermined". value or to a lesser value, may he. returned at, the'cption of the d'epositor at. any time before he starts to. claim purchase. A related object. is; to provide a mechanism which will preclude the return of coin-age having the predetermined total. value once the-- customer has taken stepsto claim. hisipurchase:

Anotherobject' is to provide a mechanism of the above type: whereincoinshavingan aggregatevalue below that" for; which the mechanismhas been set, and which. have been deposited. prior to the deposit of a defective; or spurious: 00111,, will he returnable together" withthedefective coin.

Other objects and advantageswill becomeapparent as the following detailed description proceeds; taken in connection with the accompanying' drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a fragmentaryvertical sectional view through the cabinet of a vending machine in which a coin controlled lock; mechanism embodying the" invention has been utilized, such mechanism heing' shown in side elevation;

Fig; 2-

anenlarged fragmentarysectional viewtaken along the: line: 2Z-h of his. 1: and showing 7 details of the. coin slots together with, the coin entry chutes.

Fig. 3' is: an emerged fragmentary vertical. sec.- tional" view through the cabinet of the machine are 2- illustrated in Fig. 1 and showing a side elevation of? theoompleteloch' mechanism in considerable detail.

Fig. 4+ is a fragmentary front-elevational View; to a slightly larger'scale. of? the coin controlledrnechanismillustrated in. Fig; the coin accu.- mulating" means and various parts. associated therewith being shown insection- Fig. 5 is an enlarged horizontal-1 sectional view.

' taken onthe line 5+5 of Fig; 4 showing. the

coinaccumulators. in: plan and? detailing: the: an rangement of" the detector. plungers, the. dumping; mechanism-having -been omitted.

Fig; 5A: is a fragmentary view: taken. along the line 5A---5A.- of? Eig. 5: andl, showing: certain. of; thedetector: plungersxinend: elevation...

Fig; 6 is a; fragmentary View also taken onthe line 5:-5: of Eiga. 4. but. showing; certain of. the: detector:- plungers in an. advanced: position. the total predetermined value. of coinage having-31:11aviously, been; deposited one; of the Q0111! accumul'ators;

Eigz. 7; is. an. enlarged; fragmentary vertical sec. tional view taken; longitudinally through the accumulator: for coins of the; lowest. demonination and; irr the plane of. theline. 1-1:- of Fig. 5;.

Fig, 8:- is a. View similar; to: that: of Fig. '7. but. takemthrough. the accumulator for.- coins, of. the next highest; denomination. and in the plane; of thelinee 8.-8.- in. Eig;,5..

Fig. 8. is. anotherr view" similar to. that of Fig. '7- but; taken through the accumulator. for. coins ofthe; highest denomination. and. in the. plane. ofthe line. 9.9. in Fig; 5;, the latch. bar and. certain other: movableparts also being indicated.

Eig 10. is afragmentary verticalsectional view taken along, the, line Hie-ill of Fig, 5-v and. show-- ing. the. latch bar; in its initial position. prior to the, startof. anoperating cycle.

Fig. 11, isa fragmentary view of. a. portion. of the linkage shown in. Fig. 10,, such linkage: hav mg, beenmoved through a; short, distance toward its: releasing position 1 Fig. 12 is a fragmentary view similar to Eig. 11 but; showing the latchihgxaction; of". the linkage when no. coinage... or an inadequate. amount; has been deposited;

Figs. 13;. I4 and. 15 are fragmentary views of the linkage of Fig; 1 0 illustratihg sequentially the manner in which the latch bar is released after proper coinage has'been. deposited.

Figs: 16" and? 1? areen-Iarged fragmentary plan views taken respectively in the planes of; the lines IEE- lfiand' l'T-l'Tih Figs. 14 and 15.

Fig: I8 is an enlarged vertical sectional view 3 taken along the line l8|8 of Fig. 17 with the latch bar in its fully extended position.

Fig. 19 is an enlarged fragmentary horizontal sectional view taken along the line |9-|9 of Fig. 4 and showing in plan a portion of the accumulator dumping arrangement.

Fig. 20 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view taken along the line 2|l20 of Fig. 19 with the coin accumulators in a dumping position.

Fig. 21 is an enlarged fragmentary horizontal sectional view taken along the line 2l-2l of Fig. 4 and showing in plan the relationship between the coin directing funnels and the master detector plunger.

Fig. 22 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken along the line 22-22 of Fig. 21.

Fig. 23 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational view of the coin directing funnels illustrated in Fig. 4, together with a portion of their actuating linkage.

Although a preferred embodiment of the invention has been shown and described in some detail there is no intention to thereby limit the invention to such embodiment, but on the other hand, the intention is to cover all modifications and alternative constructions falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, the invention has been there exemplified in the form of a multiple coin controlled lock mechanism 2%] for a vending machine 2|. In the present instance, the illustrative vending machine 2| happens to be of the type covered by my prior Patent No. 2,425,870, issued on August 19, 1947. Briefly, such a machine generally comprises a cabinet having a number of inclined chutes for storing articles of merchandise such as milk cartons and loading the same by gravity into a number of liftable delivery receptacles associated with the chutes. For regulating the upward movement of the delivery receptacles, the latter are equipped with individual guide rods 22 unitary therewith. The receptacles are normally retained in a locked position, such being accomplished by a cam shaft 24 having a series of axially spaced locking cams 25 adapted to engage respective locking grooves 26 in the guide rods 22. If the shaft 24 be left free to rotate through a sufiicient angle for the cams 25 to swing clear of the locking grooves 26, any selected delivery receptacle may be elevated for the removal of a purchase article. If, on the other hand, the shaft 22 should be locked or only permitted to rotate through an exceedingly small angle, it will of course be impossible to elevate any one of the delivery receptacles to the extent necessary for removal of an article of merchandise therefrom. The lifting of more than one delivery receptacle at a time is effectively precluded through the use of a ball interlock arrangement 28 associated with the rods 22, the details of the former being unimportant for present purposes.

Provision is made within the lock mechanism 28 for accumulating deposited coins until a predetermined total value representing the purchase price has been reached, any coins deposited in excess of' such total value being returnable via an excess return chute 29 or other directing means and a coin return box 30, such box being accessible from the exterior of the machine 2|. The accumulation within the lock 2E1 of coinage equal to the purchase price conditions the look so as to permit rotation. of the cam shaft through a relatively large angle. Consequently, upon elevation of any selected delivery receptacle the cam 25 disengages readily from the groove 26 in the guide rod 22. As an incident to the elevation of such selected receptacle for delivery of a purchased article, the return of the purchase money is precluded and the coins which constitute it are dumped into a cash box 3| via suitable directing means. When the elevated delivery receptacle has been returned to its ini tial or lowermost position, the mechanism 26 becomes automatically reset for the next operating cycle.

General organization Turning again to Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive, it will be noted that the lock mechanism 28 is assembled upon a mounting plate 32 adapted to be housed in a substantially upright position within the cabinet of the vending machine 2|. Located adjacent the lower edge portion of the sloping top wall of the cabinet and in vertical alinement with the mechanism 20 is a plate fitting having a series of coin slots 34, 35 and 35 which, in the present instance, are dimensioned to receive pennies, nickels and dimes, respectively. Rigidly supported in a suitable bracket below the coin slots 3 35, 36 and adapted to register with respective ones of the same are a corresponding number of coin entry chutes 34A, 35A and 36A.

Closely associated with the lower ends of the entry chutes and arranged to receive coins from the same are a number of coin selectors 3 3B, 353 and 3613, which register with each respective entry chute. The latter merely serves to detect and retain defective or spurious coins, such as magnetic slugs, eventually releasing and diverting them to the chute 29 and thence to the coin return box 30. The coin selectors may be of any well known construction, their details forming no part of the present invention.

Mounted on the plate 32 below the coin selectors and arranged to receive coins from respective ones of the latter are a plurality of coin accumulators 34C, 35C and 36C. The first acccumulator, namely 34C, comprises a multiple chute assembly for holding coins of the lowest denomination in the series of coinage usable in the mechanism 20, such denomination in the present case constituting pennies. The accumulator 350 also comprises a multiple chute arrangement and is designed for coins of the next highest denomination which, in the present instance, are nickels. The last accumulator 36C is suitably dimensioned to receive coins of the highest denomination accepted by the mechanism 20 and which, in the present instance, constitutes dimes.

. For the purpose of conditioning the lock mechanism 20 to permit the release of the locking cams 25 and also to permit the transfer of coinage from the accumulators to the cash box 3!, a novel coin detecting and counting system is utilized, together with an appropriate coin directing arrangement. Such system is, of course. responsive to the various combinations and sequences of coins deposited within the mechanism 20. Also associated with the latter is a manual coin return arrangement operable in response to the depression of a coin return plunger 38 mounted on the sloping upper wall of the vending m..- chine cabinet adjacent the coin slots 34, 35 and Coin accumulating means lators 34C, 35C and 36C, mentioned above. All

caes um.

- 5 three or. the accumulators are f generally sin-1'1- lazr constr tron, (littering principally its the matter chin storage capacity is; deter fn i'ned eachi case by: the part-1on1a1:- denomiua tier-11 to e received therein r v startingrwith the penny accumulatore lcr (Riga 7 it will be noted that the latter: comprises a generally rectangular baclcing? plate 33. rigidly attached to the main: mounting; plate? 32 on the mechanism: by mea'n'stor an; edge portions 3.9 par pendicular tathe general plane-of the hacking platen Arrangeti :v in: closely spaced parallel: relatio'nship' withrthe:backing plate? 3% a movable retainer plate: ilwhich serves to releasably confine coins within the accumulator For the purpose of-= maintaining" the: latter in" registration with the overlyingzcoin selector: il fiia rectangular locating lug? 4-1. is' fixed torone. side of. thaplate 3'3 in the vicinity 'of the upper edge portion thereof. An additionaLl-ug: 42 is. also providedion'the: same purpose and, it desir-eel, thesetvsro lugs may be fashioned= from: a unitary band.

The space enclosed between the plates 3i}: and 40 is subd-ivided into amain chute 4-4 a plurality of storage chutes 45; 46, 47 and a. return chute 48? This. subdivision is accomplished by the use of a numben of'ipartition strips 49, 513; i E i 52= and 53 rigidly attached to the:bacl ing plate 333.. Also fixed-1 to the plate 38 and ion the purpose of facilitating; the entry of? coins into the. storage chutes: 46} 4.1? are a pair oflcoin'defl'e'ctor buttons 54: and 55 having, relatively small diameters. Rigidl'y attachedL t0- tlle upper right hand portion of-tl'ie plate 38 is a downwardlyinclinedideflector vane 56v which, together with. the flanged edge 58' of tlie' loackin'g'jplat'a. defines.- a bad coin chutefis The purpose of the" latter is, of course, to receive defective or spurious coins from. the coin select'or. 34B" and. to channel. them. into the coin return chute-1&8.

III thezpresehtirrs'tanca.the individual accumu latih capacity of the" chute 45 adjustable, While that of" the" chutes 6 and i i remains fixed atr5 pennies eaclr dueto the" presence" of a fixed abutment fillnear'thebottom of the chute' lfi and a'similarfabutment 6'1 atthe bottom of the" chute 41; In the case of the-chute 4 5 which willbe referred to as"- the -bah penny chute; its storage cap'acit'y 'canbe-=varieel betwee1r on'e' zi-n'cl 5 depending upon" the positlcn of a' verticall adiju's'ta'ble abutment 8 2: which": rides? i nla slot M in the backing: plate 3&- The abutment 6:25 can be maintained a; given position: by? the sect of: an appropriatedoweliorscrew- 65:, the plate as having a: series-0i" suitablyspaced, holes-for. receiving-5 such a member and corresponding to the various positions of? the abutment 621; In the embodiment of 'the device illustratedin 7, the capacity of the chute has been setter four: ennies;

With the foregoing'arrangiement, the first four pennies accepted by the coin selector 3433- will enter the ac'curmilator 340' via the main chute 44 andwill thori- Sum-satay drop into o'clTd' penny chute 45E filling" the The fifth penny will; alsd enter: through the chute: an" an'di upon: striking: the top coiniin the chute: ir-ti will spill over into the adjacent. chute: at. This This? process will. continue until the chute": canes likewiseaccumulated. its totalcapacity of five pennies, whereupon additional coins will. take asecondspil-l and drop into: the: chute 47-. Once the latter is. filledup with: fve coins, any ads ditionall coins entering, the coin accumulator via the-chute 4 4 will automatically spill into the return chute 4 8 whichwill permit them to drop'into the coin return box 38.

Ilie: flicker accumulator. 3513 (his; 8) is pat terhewgenerallyraften the'p'ennwaccumulatorbut is equipp'edi with. different interneal partitioning and coin returna channeling; Thuszthe a'ccumulater 350- ccmprises'lasstation'aiiy backing plate 66 attached to the: mounting? plate 32 by: means of a: marginal; flanged: portion 53 amii disposed in spaced apart:parallelirelationshiprwitlrthe penny accumulator 340. A movable retainer plate? 69' ismountedz closer proximity'to: the plate 8'5 so as to define; between itself? 'anrli the? latter a suit able coin: receiving: space. As lathe: case: of the pennyaccumulatoratheaccumulator 35 C; is main:- tained. irn registration; with: its overlying coin. serlectonSE-E by the use ofilugs? Ill, H; similarto the lugs 411,. 42. r

Rigi'dlly attachedi to: the backing plate: 563 are a-pluralityofipartition: strips; 12 l i l; 15;. 16% andf. T8 which:defineavmainzchute l 93a first'branch" chute 86;; a secondbra-nch: chute: 84', and I'QtillllIlChllt-S 8-2; AatherdraWingtindicatespthetotal coinzstotageacapacity of: eachiof: the-branch chutes is: one nickel. In. order to facilitate theentry" 01".: coins into: the secondrbranchichute-hl r, aismallidiameter deflector button. as is: mountedon: the plate 68 so: as to overlie" suchtohute:v Coins are precluded from dropping completely through the chutes: 8B and 8| by means of a pair of flxedzabutments fli; 86 associated with respective ones of the latter, the abutment 86 beingmounted substantially lower than. the: abutment;

with the arrangement described,. a nickel en? tering: the main: chute; 19: from; the coin selector 3513: will roll: into: the: first" chute 8631' and; fill the same. second: nickel; entering via the main chute will then; strike the? first? one and; spill over into the? second; chute 8|. Since: any coinssu'bsequently entering: the main chute 159? will" now roll to the left, suitable provision. is made for catching; such coins and: directing: them into the return: chute 82. Thus. that plate 66 is formed withv an: angular opening; 88 adjacent" the: second nickel: chute 813 and: another. opening 89 in the Wall: of the: return chutes 82a Rigidly' attached, to the rear sidefof the: backing plate" 66: and; dis posed: with: its respective ends in: registration with: the? openings 88% ancll 89." a1 downwardly inclineci cross return chute 90'. The upper? end. of: therchute': 9% is fashioned. with: at deflector: wall ill which: extends. into the coin receiving: space between the plates: 66 and 69 for: the purpose of catchingadditiona'l coins spilling over' from the chute? B l an'ol'. deflecting such: Going. into? the" cross return: chute- Elfl'. The: lower: end; of. the latter: has a dependinghprojection 9:2: which gradually slopes front the outer Wall. of the cross return chute downward-1y towardthe plane. of the backing plate.- 65..

the' upper? right hand; portion of. the plate 5% there is mounted downwardly inclineddeflector vane 94 similar to: the vane 55 oi the penny accumulator; The vane 94;. together: with an out-turned edge portion. 95' of. the: plate 66 definesx abad coin chute 95 which directs: rejected coins. from. the selector:- 35B to the: return-1 chute To make certain: that. such coins: will: fall fi eiyeastthev edges of. the openina 8.9 the lattermay be formed with a pair of spaced: apart slot extensions 98 defining'a defiector'lug 9'9: unitary with; the plate 65 The l-ug he: may be inclined downward-1y andv toward: the movable plate: 63- so as to: make a small anglewith the: plate 8E.

The: ell-me accumulator 35C; (Fig; a) like" the accumulators 34C and, 3:50,; comprises a backing:

plate [0.0. mountedr in: spaced apart parallel relationship with the other accumulators and secured to the plate 32 by means of a marginal attaching flange IOI. Operatively associated with the backing plate is a movable coin retainer plate I 02 which defines between itself and the plate I a suitable coin receiving space. The accumulator 360, like the other accumulators, is maintained in registration with the selector 3613 by means of lugs I04 and I05 similar to the lugs 4|, 42.

The coin receiving space within the accumulator 36C is divided into a main chute I06, a branch chute I08 and a return chute I60 by means of partition strips H0, III, II 2, and H4 all of which are rigidly fixed to the backing plate I00. The total accumulating capacity of the branch chute I08 is fixed at one dime due to the location therein of a fixed abutment II5. As the drawing indicates, the first dime to enter the main chute I06 will drop freely into the branch chute I08, while successive dimes will merely impinge upon the first dime, spilling over the partition H4 and into the return chute I09. For channeling rejected coins into the return chute, the accumulator 360' is provided with a downwardly inclined deflector vane I I6 which, together with a border flange H3 unitary with the plate I00, defines a bad coin chute II 9 overlying the return chute I09.

Coin detecting and counting system As a preliminary to a discussion of this system it might be well to point out that various combinations of coins will be deposited in various sequences and collected within the accumulators 34C, 35C and 36C. The overall purpose of the foregoing system is to discriminate between coin combinations aggregating the predetermined value for which the mechanism 20 has been conditioned to respond and those combinations aggregating some lesser value. As an incident to the exercise of such discrimination, the detecting and counting system is arranged to free the cam shaft 24 for rotation through an angle suificient to permit the disengagement of one of the locking cams 25 from its associated groove 26 upon elevation of a selected one of the delivery receptacles D. This is accomplished in the present instance by the use of a rocker arm I20 (Figs. 3 and keyed or otherwise rigidly secured to the shaft 24, and a latch bar I 2! pivot- I ally attached as at I22 to the depending end of the arm I20. The latch bar I2! is so arranged that it can be longitudinally extended or retracted with respect to the mechanism 20 through a relatively large opening I24 in the mounting plate 32. Normally the bar I2I rests upon the upper edge surface of a stationary latch plate I25 rigidly attached to the plate 32 by any suitable means. Approximately midway between the ends of the bar I2I the flat under surface of the same is formed with a relatively long transverse notch I26 terminating rather abruptly in a gen erally upright abutment or shoulder I28 (Figs.

10 to The latter is adapted to engage the stationary plate I25 as indicated in Fig. 12 and thereby to preclude extension of the bar I2I from the mechanism through more than a negligible distance which is insufiicient to release any of the delivery receptacles D.

Provisionis made for lifting the latch bar I2I Vertically through the necessary distance to permit the abutment I28 to clear th stationary plate I upon the depositing of any combination of coin having the predetermined value for which the mechanism 20 has been set. With the deposit of such coinage it becomes possible to elevate any selected delivery receptacle D, the cam 25 and. the rocker arm I20 merely swingi through the necessary angle to release the guide rod 22, the bar I2I at the same time bein drawn longitudinally without restraint to its fully extended position. In the exemplary mechanism 20, this is achieved by the use of a laterally projecting cam abutment I29 unitary with the bar I2I together with a coin respons v detector bell crank I30 having at the end of one arm I30A a roller I32 adapted to coact with the cam I29. The detector bell crank I30 is p otally mounted as at ISI for limited oscillation in a generally horizontal plane and is normally oriented with its roller I32 occupying the p0sition indicated in Figs. 5, l0 and 19.

For the purpose of making the bell crank I30 coin responsive, its other arm I 303 is pivotally connected as at I34 to a linkage of detector plungers operatively associated with the coin accumulators 34C, 35C and 36C. Referring more particularly to Figs. 3 to 9, it will be observed that such linkage comprises a series of individual plungers pivotally interconnected and mounted for limited reciprocation in a direction substantially perpendicular to the general planes of the coin accumulators. The number of plungers associated with a particular accumulator corresponds exactly to the number of coin storage chutes therein. Thus in Fig. 5 there is shown a series of penny detector plungers I35, I30 and I3'I adapted to be moved transversely across the respective coin chutes 45, 46 and 47 through suitably alined slots I35A, I36A and I3'IA in the plates 38 and 40 of the penny accumulator. Registration of the plunger ends with these slots is facilitated by the use of suitabl channelled stationary uide blocks I35B, I36B and ISIB se cured to the outer side or" the backin plate 38. The plungers I36 and I31 are pivotally connected adjacent their ends by means of a cross lever I38 (Figs. 5, 5A and 6). By the same token, the plunger I35 is pivotally connected to the cross lever I38 at an intermediate point on the latter by means of a cross lever I30 having a vertical oifset portion to allow for the vertical distance between the plunger I35 and the lever I38. The pivotal connection I34 between the arm I303 of the detector bell crank and the entire detector plunger linkage is located on the cross lever I69 at a point intermediate its ends.

Operatively associated with the nickel accumulator 35C and transversely movable across the respective coin chutes and 8| are a, pair of nickel detector plungers I40 and MI similar, in character to the plungers I36 and I3'I. Suitable slots MBA and I4IA (Fig. 8) are provided in the plates 66 and 69 to permit the entry of the plungers I40 and MI into the coin chutes, such enti being facilitated y a guide block I403 mounted on the outer side of the backin plate 66. The plungers I40 and I4! are pivotally connected together by means of a cross lever I42 (Fig. 5) resembling the lever I38.

In Figs. 5 and 9 there is shown a relatively long detector plunger I44 which extends through all the coin accumulators. Th end portion of the plunger I44 is adapted to move in slot I44A in the side plates I00, I02 of the dime accumulator 36C and thus to enter transversely the coin chute I08. As in the case of the plungers already described, the plunger I44 is guided into aecaeci the above slots by means of a stationary guide block IMB attachedto the outer side of the backing plate 1'00. The dime detector plun also serves as a connecting link between the cross levers I38 and 1420f the penny and nickel detector plu ngers, the "cross levers being pivoted intermediate their ends at M5 and me so as to fulcrum on the plunger M 3. In order to minimize the number of detector Plungers, the ends of the press levers I38 and H2 adjacent the plungers It and MB are swivelly connected by means of a can 149 which causes the levers I38 and I 42 to pivot in unison on the plunger I'M. The 'pivot IE6 also connects the plunger [44 to the left hand ens of the tress lever 439 (Fig. 5A), the opposite end 'of the iever see heing'pivo'ted totheplun'gerltt as Mt.

When the mechan sm -20 is in a locke'd cuneitioh-as ill ustrated ifr-Figs-fi and 10, the' latch ha r I21 will be in its fully renames casinos and the detector bell crank I 36 will lie in it "extreme counterclockwise position with the right hand ends or the penny detector pluneer's 1 utting against a mechanical step I50. Should an attempt be made to elevate one of the delivery receptacles D without previously depositing any coinage, the rocke -arm 1'29 Will start to rol'late drag with it the "latch ber W23, wringing the iatt'erseam I29finto't'it r'itac't with the roller 132 of the detectonbellhr'ank. There being no coins in the storage chutes to -"intercept their motion, the detector .plungers will all slid-e leftwardly and thereby permit the bell crank 130 to b'eirocked clockwise '(asviewedfrom the top) as a result of the"'rorce'applied upon its roller I32 byjthecam 129. 'Thefswin'g of the rock'er arm I20 will continue andthe part2: will thus move farther tofthe right "(Fig 11') until its abutment I28 is .fl'rml'y accoste 'by lthe station-- ary latch plate I25 (Fig. 12:). This action abruptly halts the movement or the latch bar 'IZl' as Well as the rocker arm I20, together With its associated cam shaft "2 2 and cams25. The latter parts although rocked through a small angle have not been "moved sufficiently to "disengage the'lock ing cams 25ffromthereces'ses in the guide rods 22 or the delivery receptacles D. In the ev nt that an "insufficient "amount of coinage should be deposited in the mechanism under the same initial conditions as outlined above,a somewnatsiiniia 'actio'ntothat already described willjthere'iipon ta eppljace. Under such conditions, however, thereis a'possibilit'y that one or more of the detectorplungerswill -abuttingly engage coins witninonejcr more of the storage chutes. If the-amount of such Jdepos'itedcQina'ge is inadequate, .however,'tlie clockwisemotion of the detector bell crank I36 will not be arrested due to the ,fact that the plunger linkage 'will fulcrum freely aboutthepivot point I34 and the pivot lfihorl ls, V

The plunger linkage {is soarrang ed that the presence of an adequate amount of coinage in the coin storage chutes will produce sufficient opposition t thelleftwald movement of detector plungers onboth sides of fth'e pivot point I34 to substantiallyjpre'clude fulcrur'ni'ngnf the linkage about suchpcint. In j'thelatter event, an attempt to elevate one; of, the delivery receptacles D will initiate outward movement of theilatch bar 12! so asto bring ,the camlz'ain'to engagement with the ,roller .l 3 2,of "the bell crank (Fig. 11). After the bell acrank ghas -;been rocked through ;a relatively slight; angle dn a clockwise direction, .;-however,.-:-this. motion arrested due 10 to the interception of the detector plun ers by the deposited coins. Further elevatin force upon the selected delivery receptacle D continues to swing the rocker arm I20 still further, causing the latter to drag the bar l-ZI until its cam I29 has climbed up on the roller I32. This lifts the trailing end of the latch bar I25 through a suhicient distance for it's abutment I-28 to clear the stationary latch plate i 25. Sharp upward whipping of the bar E25 is prevented during this time by means of an adjustable mechanical stop I51 mounted ,on the plate 32 over the opening 124. -,Co ntinued upward movement of the delivery receptacle gD will-now result in further:rightwardmovement of the bar IZI (Fig. 114) against the force sof ea tensile return spring 152 disposed between (the mounting plate 32 and the rocker {arm 1243-. This action will continue until zthe bar I.2I has reached its fully extended positionjillustrated in 15. Atthis point, the locking scams Lha-ve sheen rocked to their {fully disengaged position {and the selected receptacle D canhe 3elevatedfto its upper limit for delivery of ithe purchased .iitem. Upon .:release of the elevated delivery receptacle after removal of the merchandise therefrom, :the latter ,and its guide rod 2-2 .wi;ll;descend"unti1 the :locking jgroov'eiii therein'registers with itsiassociated locking cam 2 5. :Due .to the action "of the return spring 152 on theirocker arm-I20, thefcamizfa will thereupon be urged Linto engagementonce :more with its associated locking grooveifi. [Once suchengagement has :taken place, :further descent .of the receptacleenandthe guide rod 22 will assist the action :of the :spring andthus rotate the arm clockwise ,(aswiewedin Figs. .10 to 15) at the qsarnetimezshifting the ,latch bar 121 leftwardlyto :its fully retracted position. For the purpose: of restoring the bell crank 1'38 and the "detector :rplunge'r linkage to its initial position, the bar I2I ihaslfified thereto a laterally projecting resettabutment l-fie;which;is adapted to accost the roller 132 of the bell crank see .and .rock the latter togits extreme :counterclockwise positicn.

In the exemplary gmechanism- 2B,, the detector plunger linkageti's adaptedeto arrest the clockwise motion of the bell crank tail :underthe I following 'four'operating conditions:

4(1) when l @pennies yha've :.-been accumulated in the i fi-rst :cr odd pennyxchute 45 and 'a dime deposited in :the {dime :istorager chut'e 988.

"(2) When 4 Lpennieshavetbeen accumulated :in the first penny 'storgechute .45 and two aiickels in the nickel storage chutesml and :81

(3) When l rpennies have been accumulated in the first penny storage chute 35 together with 5 pennies in the second penn-y -'-chute de and one nick-e1 in the first nickel -chute 8t.

("4) When 1 4 pennies have been-accumulated i-n the -storage chutes of r the penny accumulator "-Tliis condition la-illustrated in-Fig. 6.

The individual coi 'n's i-n the -com'-binations listed in i the preceding par a'graph'can *b'e deposited in a n-y order, since the internal partitioning Within "the coine'ccumulators 35G, SEC-and 3530 automaticallyfpositions them' relative to the various detector planners.

Coin dumping means lncrder toempty the coin: accumulators 350, 356 and 36C= after a cus'tom'er h'as taken steps ito -claim his purchase, provision is made for erfectin g a relative separation between the retainer zplates 4 0,::59 ='an'd I Ilzsand thei r respective backing pl-ates 38,-66 (and Hill. This opens the-coin stor aesaocr age chutes and, since the abutments on which the coins rest are all fashioned with bevelled upper edge surfaces, the deposited coins readily slide clear and descend to the cash box 3i via appropriate directing means. In the present instance, each of the retainer plates 40, 69 and I02 is supported upon a pair of vertically spaced upper and lower links I55, I56 (Figs. 4, 19 and attached to the mounting plate 32 as by means of shoulder studs I58 and I59 for rocking movement in a generally vertical plane. Each of the lowermost links I56 is provided with a radially extending lug I56A adapted to coact with one of a plurality of abutments projecting laterally from a horizontally reciprocable dumping bar I60, such bar being adapted to couple the retainer plates for movement in unison. In the present instance the bar I60 is slidably supported as by means of a pair of brackets I51 (Figs. 4 and 19) fixed to the plate 32. Prior to the initiation of a cycle of operation, the retainer plates 40, 69 and I02 occupy positions close to their respective backing plates (Figs. 4 and 19) the dumping bar I60 at the same time lying in its righthand terminal position.

Means is provided for producing a leftward shift of the dumping bar I60 to empty the coin accumulators as an incident to the release of the mechanism 28 and elevation of a selected delivery receptacle D. This is accomplished in the exemplary mechanism by the use of a trigger I6I (Figs. 16, 17 and 19) pivotally carried by a fixed bracket I62 and adapted to be actuated by the latch bar I2I as the latter approaches its fully extended position. The trigger I6I is fashioned with a pair of diverging arms I6IA, IBIB, the former being arranged to project into the path of movement of a depending lug I64 unitary with the latch bar I2I. The arm IGIB terminates in a bifurcated end portion and in the present case is vertically offset from the arm I6IA. In order to transmit motion from the trigger I6I to the dumping bar I60, the latter is equipped with an upstanding pin I65 of appropriate size to mesh with the bifurcations of the arm I6IB. Referring once again to Figs. 16 and 17, it will be perceived that as the latch bar I2I is drawn toward its extended position, the depending lug I64 attached to its trailing end will accost the rounded end ofthe trigger arm I6IA and thus rock the trigger clockwise until the arm I6IA squarely abuts the mounting plate 32. This of course shifts the dumping bar I60 to the left (as viewed in Fig. 20), emptying the coin accumulators in the manner already described.

Manuel coin return and interlock As indicated earlier herein, coins desposited in the mechanism 20 and accepted by the latter are returnable at any time prior to release of the mechanism incident to claiming a purchase. This objective is achieved by means of a manual coin return linkage comprising the spring loaded plunger 38 accessible from the exterior of the machine, together with a pair of compression links I66, I68 and levers I69, I10 pivotally supported by the mounting plate 32. The lever I10 is pivoted upon the stud I and in this instance is located on the opposite side of the dumping bar I60 from the supporting link I56 associated with the retainer plate I02 (Figs. 4 and 19), being formed with a radially projecting portion I10A which is adapted to engage an abutment I1I on the dumping bar I60. The coin return linkage is so arranged that depression of the plunger 38 will cause a downward shift of the compression'links I66 and I68 together with the lever I69 which connects them. Such downward movement will also rock the lever I10 counterclockwise through a small angle, shifting the dumping bar I60 to the left and emptying the coin accumulators in a manner identical with that obtaining under the action of the trigger I6I. As a result of the actuation of the manual coin return, the coins dumped from the accumulators will be channelled into coin return box 30 by the coin directing means.

For the purpose of clearing the coin selectors 34B, 35B and 36B of spurious coins such as magnetic slugs, there is utilized a wiping arrangement which is actuated upon the depression of the manual coin return plunger 38. Such arrangement comprises an offset bar I12 (Figs. 3 and 4) in the form of an inverted U and carrying wipers I14, I15 and I16 respectively associated with each of the respective coin selectors. The bar I12 is connected to the lever I69 so that the downward swing of the latter will rotate the former through a sufiicient angle to permit the wipers to dislodge any slugs from the coin selectors.

In order to preclude the return of the accumulated coins representing the purchase price after the customer has undertaken to claim his purchase, there is provided an interlocking means responsive to the position of the latch bar I2I. Upon release of the latching bar and movement of the same toward its extended position, the interlock means is rendered eifective to preclude movement of the dumping bar I60 with consequent separation of the retainer plates 40, 69 and I02 from the respective backing plates of the coin accumulators. As the bar I2I approaches its fully extended position, the interlock means is rendered ineffective and, as a consequence, does not interfere with the dumping of the accumulated coinage into the cash box 3I after the selected receptacle D has been released for elevation and delivery of the purchased article.

Referring once more to Figs. 9 to 17, it will be observed that the interlock means comprises a forked lever I11 pivoted as at I18 for vertical swinging movement upon the bracket I19 carried by the mounting plate 32, The lever I11 is biased preferably by means of a suitable spring (not shown) which tends to rock the former upwardly about its pivot point. The lower arm I11A of the lever I11 is adapted to register with a transverse slot I on the underside of the dumping bar I60. The upper arm I11B of the lever I11 is arranged to project into the path of a pair of longitudinally spaced cams I8I and I82 rigidly fixed to one side of the latching bar I2I.

As long as the bar I2I remains in the latched condition indicated in Figs. 10 to 12, and the looking cams 25 preclude elevation of any of the delivery receptacles D, the arm I11A will be held clear of the slot I80 in the dumping bar due to the contact between the arm H13 and the cam I8I. The lifting of the latch bar I2I incident to its release for movement toward its extended position results, however, in the gradual engagement of the arm I11A with the slot I80. As the bar !2I moves still further toward its extended position (Fig. 14), the cam I8I thereon slides clear of the upper arm I11B of the lever I11, permitting the latter to swing upwardly so as to bring the arm I11A all the way into the slot I80 of the dumping bar and thus lock the latter against all movement. As the bar meanest criminating between coinage dumped from the 7 coin accumulators 'as an incident to the release of -a selected delivery "receptacle and coinage dumped prior to any such release as a result of the depression of the manual coin returnplunger 38. Goins dumped under the former condition must be=channelled into the-cash box 31, whereas those dumped under the lattercon'dition must be channelled into the coin return box 30. In the present instance, this result is obtained by means of a-chute assembly 184 (Fig. 4) secured to the mounting .plate 32 in underlying relationship with the coin accumulators 34C, 35C and 36C. The assembly I84 is internally subdivided by a number of partitions definin therein a series of collecting chutes I85 together with an alternating serieso'f returnchutes I86. i hecollect'ing chutes 65 are, of course, adapted to direct coins into the cash box =31 while the return chutes I 86 are arranged to direct coins into thereturn box 39. I'nterpos'ed between the chute assembly I84 and the coin accumu'lators "are a plurality of rrockably mounted coin directing funnels I88 to I92, inclusive. These funnels are mounted so as to underlie the respective coin storage chutes in the accumulators and are normally maintained with their discharge ends in registration with respectiveones of the return chutes I86, 'The funnels remain in 'such condition until the release of a delivery receptacle in the manner already described, "whereupon they are moved into registration with the collecting chutes I85 for collectibn of the customers purchase money.

It has already been shown that excess coins deposited in any one accumulator a'ft'er the'filling of the coin storage chutes therein will be immediately and automatically channelled into the coin return "box 30 via one or more of "the accumulator return chutes- '48, "82 and I99 (Figs. 7,8 and 9). 'Such means alone, however, would not preclude "the collection of excess coins which have entered one or more of the storage chutes in an unfilled coin accumulator. In order to prevent the collection of excess coins in thelatter category and promptly return them to the customer, provision is made for selectively shifting certain ones of the coin directing funnels betweerrcoin collecting and returning positions in accordance with the various combinations "of coins deposited within the "accumulators.

Turning now to Figsl l, 9, '21 "and 23, it will be -not'ed that the funnels I88 and 192 which respectively underlie the first or odd penny storage chute 4'5 and the dime storage chute I 98 are constrained to swin in unison due to positive pivotal attaclimentto a rigid connecting link I93. On the other hand, "the funnels I89, I90, I 91, which respectively underlie the remaining two penny storage chutes 46, 41 and the two nickel storage chutes 88), :BI, are journaled for independent rocking movement over the chute-assembly L84. zsuch .rnovement canonlybccur, however, when the funnels I88, I 92 :are in ia' collectmg position due to the fact that the link 193 carries a 'u=s'h-a e'd jporition I94 rigidly fixed thereto as at I95. The ends of the portion I94 terminate in lateral extensions 194A, I 943 which are adapted to respectively engage the funnels I39, 1:90 and -I'9-I upon movement of the -funnels I 88, I92 clo'ckwise relative :to the former.

By reason of a linkage (Figs. 4, -9 "and 10), connecting :the tunnel F92 with the rocker arm I29, the funnels I88 :and I92 are shifted from com returning to coin collecting position upon release of the latch bar I24 and disengagement "of the locking "cams 25. suohslinkage includes a .tension rod I 98 housed within the :dime accumulator 36C and having an upper "offset portion extending :throuhhzan openin 1:98 the backingzplate Hill. The rod I96 connects the i'funnel 192 with a crank lever I99 :pivoted to the backing tpl'ate to the :rocker :arm I 20 by means 'of a second rod 201.

The'iunnels H39, 490 and I91, are .normally maintained :in a coin -.rietu'rning position, ibeing selectively permitted to swing Jinto 7a icoin CD1- lectin'g position only undercertainpredetermined operatingconditions. For this purpose, theabove funnels are :provided with projecting fears 1139A, IA =and I=91A (Figs. 21, 23!) "to which are pivoted a correspondin series'of vertieal'drag links 292,2e3'and 29t Due to the weight 601 the projecting Jugs and the dra links, biasing forces vare set :up ftending to swing the :funnels 1'89, 199., :Ir9 I :into z-registration with the collecting chutes I 85. Such"registration' is precluded, however, as afresu'lt :of engagement between theadime zdetectorzplunger I44 and shoulders 292A, "103A and 294A itFig. 122) formed in the respective drag links and overlyin the plunger I 44.

Asexplainedearlierherein, the detector plunger linkage of the exemplary mechanism :20 is adapted to arrestthermotion of the detector :bell crank I30 and thereby release thelatchibar I2.I upon deposit of fourvdiff'e'rent "coin combinations, namely: (1-) :a dime and-ezpennie's in the odd penny chute, the latter coins'being-Jreferred toias the odd pennies; (2) two nickels and the odd pennies; (3) one nickel, 2:5 :pennies iand the odd pennies; (4') -14 tpennies. ZBy properly proportioning the relative -lengths oi the :in'dividual detector jplungers (Fight) :anarrangement .can be worked out whereby the dime detector plunger I54 can be made to occupy ;fourzdifferent longitudinal positionsucorrespondin'g respectively to the above coin combinations. Thus in response to the deposit of combination (1), the plunger I i-'1 shifts from its initial position leftwardly through asmall distance'untilzittabuts the coin in the dime chute I98, :the sodd penny plunger .135 at the same time moving only a negligible distance into content with the :coin inithe'od'd penny chute 45. Combination (2') permit plunger I M to take a longer step'to the left zunti1 the nickel plungers 11:8 and M1 and the :od'dpenny plunger +35 contact the 'coins in their" associated storage chutes -89,8-I,-45,' wh1"le combination '63) permits the plunger to move through an even longer leftward step, :stopping ,upon "the abutment of the j'plungers M0, 1316 and II35 with the coins in storagechutestll,46345 withwvhich thes are respectively associated. fillhelargest'leftward step of all in the movement .:of the plunger IM occurs, however, in 'response i thexdeposit of coin combination (4') when r-suchtmovement is halted by contact between :the penny detector plungers I35, I36 and I3! and the coins in the penny storage chutes 45, 46, 41 (Fig. 6).

The foregoing relationships are utilized to good advantage in regulating the individual swinging action of the funnels I89, I90, I9I from their returning to their collectin position. Accordingly, the dime detector plunger I44 is formed with a plurality of longitudinally staggered, lateral notches 205, 286 and 207 (Figs. 5, 21 and 23). Upon the deposit of certain ones of the four combinations set forth above, these notches will be selectively brought into registration with the shoulders of the drag links 202, 209 and 204, permitting the latter to descend and thus allowin the funnels I89, I90, I9I to swing from returning to collecting position under the action of their weight bias.

Assume now that a combination of coins having a total value in excess of the purchase price has been deposited within the coin accumulators. If such combination includes a dime, the dime detector plunger 445 will be shifted to its first leftward position (Fig. 23) upon the release of the mechanism 20. As the drawing indicates, none of the notches in the plunger I44 will register with the drag links 202, 203, 204 and the funnels I89, I 90, I9I, will consequently remain in a returning condition. Thus any nickels in the chutes 80, 8| and any pennies in the chutes 46, 41 will automatically be returned to the customer via the funnels I89, I90, I9I when the latter claims his purchase. These funnels remain in their coin returning position even after the dime is released since by that time the latch bar cam I29 has ridden over the detector bell crank roller I32 and there is no longer any force on the plunger I44 tending to shift the same further to the left.

Assume further that the coin combination which exceeds the purchase price does not include a dime but does comprise nickels and pennies. Under such circumstances, when the mechanism is released the dime detector plunger I44 will be shifted to its second leftward position. This will permit the drag link 204 of the nickel directing funnel I ill to descend and thereby allow that funnel-;to swin into its collecting position. The odd penny directing funnel I88 will also be rocked into collecting position, but the other penny directing funnels I89, I90 will be held in returning position by their drag links 202, 293, When the customer elevates a delivery receptacle to claim his purchase, therefore, coin combination (2) is collected and the excess pennies are automatically returned via the chutes I89, I90.

If an excess deposit includes but one nickel, the remainder being pennies, the plunger I44 will stop in its third leftward position. In this position, the drag link 204 of the nickel funnel I9I, as well as the drag link 202 of the funnel I89 will register respectively with the slots 20?, 295, allowing the funnels I9I and I89 to move into their collectin positions along with the odd penny funnel I88. Funnel I90 will be held in its returning position by its drag link 203. Thus the nickel, the five pennies from the storage chute 49, and the pennies from the odd pennychute 45 will be collected upon release of the mechanism, while the excess pennies in the chute 41 will be returned to the purchaser.

If all the deposited coins are pennies, there can be no excess retained in the accumulators because any extra pennies will immediately spill into the return chute 48 in the manner already described. Under these circumstances, the plung er I44 will be shifted into its fourth position, allowing the drag links 202, 203, to descend and thus permitting the penny funnels I89, I to move into coin collecting position along with the odd penny funnel I88.

When the selected receptacle D descends after the delivery of the purchased article, its guide rod 22 engages the associated locking cam 25 and commences to reset the mechanism for the next operating cycle. During this process, the link I96 shifts downwardly, positively swinging the directing funnels I88, I92 to their coin returnin position. The lateral abutments I94A, I94B, unitary with the connecting link I93, thereupon accost any of the other directing funnels I89, I90, I9I, which happen to be in the coincollecting position, rocking such funnels back into the coin returning position. As a matter of incidental interest, it might be noted here that the abutments' I94A, I94B, also prevent the funnels I 99, 90, I9I from swinging into collecting position due to leftward shifting of the dime detector plunger when an attempt is made to operate the mechanism without depositing sufiicient coinage.

Re'sume' of operation While the operation of the mechanism 20 is undoubtedly already clear to those skilled in the art, a brief summary might be appropriate at this point. Usin the exemplary total value of fourteen cents, the operation of the device will be traced after deposit of the first of the four coin combinations to which it is responsive, namely, one dime and four pennies (the odd pennies).

Assuming the mechanism to be in the locked condition indicated in Figs. 1, 3, and 10, the deposited coins will travel from the coin slots 34, 36 to the coin accumulators 34C, 360 via the respective entry chutes and the corresponding coin selectors. The dime will enter the dime accumulator 300 (Fig. 9) through the passage I06, dropping into the storage chute I08 where its descent will be arrested by the abutment H5. The odd pennies, on the other hand, will enter the penny accumulator 340 (Fig. 7) through the passage 44, dropping into the storage chute 45 and filling the same.

Having deposited coinage of appropriate value the customer is then in a position to claim his purchase. In the present instance, this is done by manually elevating a selected one of the delivery receptacles D, such action also elevating the guide rod 22 of the selected receptacle. Due to the engagement between the notch 28 of the guide rod and its associated locking cam 25 (Fig. 3), the cam shaft 24 and rocker arm I20 are rotated in a direction tending to shift the latch bar I2I toward its extended position. The cam I29 on the latch bar will thereupon contact the roller I32 of the detector bell crank I30 and, since coinage having a total value equal to the purchase price has been accumulated, the detector plunger linkage will arrest the motion of the bell crank I30 and permit the cam I29 to ride up on the roller I32 (Fig. 13). This is of course due to the interception of the movement of the dime and odd penny detector plungers I44, I35, by the coins in the chutes I08, 45. By reason of the foregoing, the latch bar is rendered free to move into its fully extended position, temporarily looking out the manual coin return by means of the lever I11 and finally dumping the coin accumulators by means of the trigger IBI and the dump- 

